Confutation of Monstrous and Horrible Heresies, Point 9
H.N.
Beholde, after this manner as wee beeleeue, and doe heere confeſſe or acknowledge: become wee rightlyf.1. Peter. 1. … 3. c. baptized in the name of the Sonne, & g.Rom. 11. c.incorporated or implanted as fellowe members of Chriſte, into the bodye of Chriſte, and the ſtocke of Iſrael, to the ende that wee ſhoulde euen ſo, according to the trueth, as true Chriſtians and an holy people of Iſrael, of the ſeed of Abraham, beare or carry his holy name,h.Matt. 10. d. Luke. 12. …. confeſſe or acknowledge the ſame Chriſt, as our Sauiour before men, and euen ſo liue and walke in his louelie vpright beeyng. Wee confeſſe likewiſe, that all ſuche as doe not imitate or followe after Ieſus Chriſt, in his death of the croſſe, in all obedience of the holy worde of Ieſu Chriſt, and of his holy ſpirite of louelove,i.Rom. 6. a. b. 8 1. Cor. 15. f. Colloſſ 2 b. to the vanquiſhing of the ſinne, the death, and the hel, & to a burying of all iniquitie deſtroying nature, & vngodly being, or become not euen ſo baptized, or waſhed in his name, neither yet beare the death of the ſinne,k.Rom. 6. a. through the death of the croſſe of Chriſt in theirl.2. Cor. 4. b. Gala. 6. b. inwardneſſe: are no chriſtians, nor yet baptized in the name or ſaluation of the ſonne. For al ſuch as become not baptized or waſhed in the name of Ieſu, (that is in the ſauing health of his death) to the mortifiyngm.Rom. 6. a Gala. 5. c. Colloſſ. 3. a. of the ſinfull fleſhe according to the inwarde man: neither yet indeuour them thereto: and yet neuertheleſſe boaſt them to be chriſtians, they are al falſe (n) Chriſtians, alſo lying in al theyr confeſſing & teaching,Mat. 24. a. Iohn 8. c. becauſe they enter not into theo.Iohn. 10. c. cōmunialtie of the ſheepe of Chriſt, through the death andp.Rom. 6. a. coincor porating of the death of Chriſt, which is the right doore of the ſheepe folde of Chriſt, but breake in ſome other way, and beleeue not the ſaluation or ſauing health of Ieſu Chriſt,
Anſweare. THis conteyneth nothing els, but a iuſtifiyng of that which hee hath profeſſed before, to wit, that our imitation of Chriſte in his death of the croſſe, is our beliefe in the ſonne, and our baptizing in the name of the ſonne, and a condemning of al as falſe Chriſtians, who ſhal not enter by this his way, into the ſheepefolde of Chriſt. And therfore my former anſwere doth diſpatch this alſo. Through this doctrine profeſſed by H. N. faith is vtterly baniſhed, and woorkes onelyonly and altogeather imbraſed, ſo that inſtead of ſaying, I beleeue in Ieſus Chriſt, if we wil become ſcholers vntounto H. N. we are to ſay, I work Ieſu Chriſt. The matter that miniſtreth vntounto vsus faith and comfort in Ieſus Chriſt, is, that he being God equall with his father, hath notwithſtanding abaſed himſelfe in our nature, and for our ſaluation vntounto the eſtate of a ſeruant, wherein he hath humbled himſelfe vntounto all reproch, contempt, anguiſh, and bitterneſſe of paine both in ſoule and bodie, in the time of his life: and vntounto all infamie and ſlander by his death. For his death was the death of the croſſe, and his graue was giuen him with the wicked, and the wicked had their will of him, inſomuch that the Prophet ſaith:Eſay. 53. He was famous for his miſerie and affliction. This is that louelove and friendſhip, which the Apoſtle ſaith hath no fellow or match to be found among men. For who hath beene found to offer himſelfe to an infamous death for his friend, the ſonne of God doth it for his enemies. For he was counted among the tranſgreſſours. Here is the ground worke of our faith and comfort, that when there was no religion or feare of God in vsus, and therefore deadly enmitie betwene him and vsus: yet ſo great was the good will he did beare vntounto vsus, that himſelfe would wade throughout all thoſe raging waues, to ſaue and preſerue vsus that were vnderunder the water of euerlaſting deſtruction. Here is the triumph of Chriſtians in whom religion is in trueth begonne, and his feare truely entered, and therefore hatred baniſhed, and they truely reconciled: that if his death were able of enemies to make friends, his life (which is of much more efficacie & power) ſhall well be able where friendſhip is begonne, to continue it for euer. If that which is weaker, hath done the greater worke, the ſtronger,The eſtate of H. N. his Chriſt, was nearer vntounto glorie and more honourable in the time of his ſuffering, then euer it was before. will bee much more able to goe thorowe with the leſſe labour. H. N. his Chriſt cutteth of all this comfort. For his eſtate in ſuffring, was not abaſed, and lower then before it had beene: but better and nearer vntounto glorie. H. N. his Chriſt was not equall with God before the time of his paſſion and humiliatiō, but an vtter enimy vntounto God. For the time of his humiliation and ſuffering, is from his firſt entrance into the familie, vntill he become an illuminate elder, before which time (in his opinion) hee is a ſtraunger, nay an vtter enimie to God and all godlineſſe. Here is then no argument of good will, by abaſing himſelfe from a better eſtate vntounto a worſe, whereby comfort eſpecially commeth vntounto vsus. Beſides, H.N. his Chriſt, ſuffereth for his owne benefite, for hee coulde not come to euerlaſting ioy and his perfect eſtate, vnleſſe he ſhould die in the fleſh. And this vtterly killeth all comfort: for what argument of good will towardes vsus can wee hauehave from another in that matter, whereby himſelfe is either the whole, or at the leaſt the greateſt gayner? Moreouer, ſhall his death by reconciling of vsus to God (which is the greater worke from the weaker inſtrument) put vsus in aſſured hope, to be ſafely kept by his life vntounto eternall glorie: when wee are both by our owne death & ſuffering, to rid vsus from the daunger of our ſinnes: reconcile vsus vntounto our God: and by our life, to continue and preſerue our ſelues vntounto glorie? Howe fearefull is the fall of H.N. and his familie, that hauehave forſaken the true Meſſias, that bringeth ſo great comfort vntounto mankinde, to imbrace ſo curſed and comfortleſſe a Chriſt?